MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United States carried out an airstrike in southern Somalia, resulting in the deaths of 10 members of the Al-Shabaab jihadist group, as reported by US military authorities on Tuesday.
The airstrike occurred on December 31 in Beer Xaani, located approximately 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the port city of Kismayo.
The United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) confirmed the operation in a statement, emphasizing that it was conducted “at the request” of the Somali government.
“The initial post-strike assessment indicated the air strike killed 10 Al-Shabaab militants while no civilians were harmed,” AFRICOM stated. The command assured that it would “continue to assess the results of this air strike and will provide additional information as appropriate.”
This airstrike follows a recent attack by the Islamic State group in northern Somalia, which was successfully repelled by government forces.
Al-Shabaab, notorious for numerous attacks in Mogadishu and other regions of the country, remains a persistent threat despite ongoing government offensives aimed at eradicating the group.
The United States has long invested heavily in combating the armed rebellion in Somalia.
Under former President Donald Trump, US troops were withdrawn from Somalia, but the decision was later reversed by President Joe Biden.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/us/politics/biden-military-somalia.html
Somalia continues to face multiple challenges, including decades of civil war, frequent climate disasters, and ongoing jihadist violence, making it one of the world’s poorest nations.
